The Madama Butterfly Simulcast

On Saturday, May 27, they braved the cold evening air in Civic Center Plaza to be part of the first-ever simulcast of a San Francisco Opera production. The crowd started arriving in the late afternoon for the 8 pm opening-night performance of Madama Butterfly. The Plaza was decorated in red lanterns, as a 18 x 25-foot LED screen and sound equipment towered over the crowd. The crowd, nestled in lawn chairs, sleeping bags and blankets, brought picnics and libations of all types.

Among the crowd, estimated to be 6,000 - 8,000, were many San Francisco Opera Supers. Even alum Bruce McNaughton, on a break from his supering duties in Cincinnati and Dayton, was spotted in the crowd.

One of the sponsors of the outdoor event, Joe Bruscia, the 91-year-old son of Giuseppe Bruscia, one of the founders of the San Francisco Opera, left the cozy comfort of his Opera House box to join the crowd.

The crowd settled in for a terrific evening of splendid singing, led by soprano Patricia Racette, giving a breathtaking performance in the title role. A strong cast and talented group of Supers made it a memorable evening, even though Super Kevin Johnson was inadvertently left off the list of Supernumeraries in the program.

As a special treat for the thousands who were determined to ignore the cold and make it to the end, the principals, along with Maestro Donald Runnicles and director Ron Daniels, were whisked from the Opera House to the Plaza by golf cart. It was reported that Zheng Cao (Suzuki) got a running start from the opera house stage. They were received with thunderous applause, and even signed programs.

It appears that General Director David Gockley is creating a new personality for the San Francisco Opera, perhaps a personality not unlike his own—engaging, exciting and forward-looking.

An Opening Night Gallery